Mps1 is a kinetochore-associated kinase essential for the vertebrate mitotic checkpoint

The mitotic checkpoint acts to inhibit entry into anaphase until all chromo somes have successfully attached to spindle microtubules. Unattached kineto chores are believed to release an activated form of Mad2 that inhibits APC/ C-dependent ubiquitination and subsequent proteolysis of components needed for anaphase onset. Using Xenopus egg extracts, a vertebrate homolog of yea st Mps1p is shown here to be a kinetochore-associated kinase, whose activit y is necessary to establish and maintain the checkpoint. Since high levels of Mad2 overcome checkpoint loss in Mps1-depleted extracts, Mps1 acts upstr eam of Mad2-mediated inhibition of APC/C. Mps1 is essential for the checkpo int because it is required for recruitment and retention of active CENP-E a t kinetochores, which in turn is necessary for kinetochore association of M ad1 and Mad2.